Your Child is Normal: with Dr Jessica Hochman

Latest Episodes:

Ep 172: Should normal "sucking habits" like breast feeding, pacifiers and thumb sucking be stopped? Dr Lisa Bienstock pediatric dentist Feb 17, 2025

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Today, Dr Jessica Hochman and Dr. Lisa Bienstock, pediatric dentist, discuss the nuances ] focusing on common concerns parents have regarding their children's "sucking" habits. They explore the importance of understanding non-nutritive sucking habits, for example the implications of breastfeeding, and the role of pacifiers and thumb sucking on children's oral development. Dr. Bienstock emphasizes the importance of allowing children to stop these habits on their own terms and provides various strategies and tools for parents to support their children in this process. The discussion aims to reassure parents about common concerns regarding their children's oral habits and offers practical advice for fostering healthy dental practices.

Your Child is Normal is the trusted podcast for parents, pediatricians, and child health experts who want smart, nuanced conversations about raising healthy, resilient kids. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Hochman — a board-certified practicing pediatrician — the show combines evidence-based medicine, expert interviews, and real-world parenting advice to help listeners navigate everything from sleep struggles to mental health, nutrition, screen time, and more.
Follow Dr Jessica Hochman:
Instagram: @AskDrJessica and Tiktok @askdrjessica
YouTube: Ask Dr Jessica

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If you are interested in placing an ad on Your Child Is Normal click here or fill out our interest form.
To test your child's microbiome and get recommendations, check out:
Tiny Health using code: DRJESSICA
The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only. She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals. If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

Ep 171: How to create helpful boundaries with our teens? with Dr Candice Feinberg Feb 10, 2025

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In this conversation, Dr. Candice Feinberg, a clinical psychologist and CEO of ROWI, a mental health center for teens. In this episode we talk about her book "No Parent Left Behind: How to Parents Teens from Love Instead of Fear". We talk about the art of setting boundaries with teens-- emphasizing the need for parents to approach parenting from a place of love rather than fear. The discussion highlights the significance of in-person connections and the necessity of seeking support when facing parenting challenges.

For more information on ROWI:

https://rowiteen.com/

And to get Dr Feinberg's book:

https://lioncrest.com/books/no-parent-left-behind-candice-feinberg/

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Ep 170: How to prevent childhood obesity? With Dr Art Mollen Feb 03, 2025

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Today's guest is Dr. Art Mollen, longevity health expert and best selling author, and he gives practical tips to parents to help establish healthy eating habits for children. We discuss the role of parents in modeling healthy behaviors for their children, the necessity of exercise, tips to avoid eating from boredom, and more. Dr Mollen is celebrating his 80th birthday this month and he is the epitome of health---mentally and physically--so thank you to Dr Mollen for imparting your words of wisdom!
About Dr Mollen:

He is a nationally renowned health and fitness expert. His medical practice, The Mollen Clinic, emphasizes the benefits of preventive medicine. Dr. Mollen has always been a proponent of exercise and diet as the primary treatment modality for many diseases. Through the use of exercise and diet, Dr. Mollen attempts to reduce the dosages of prescription medications that patients may be taking.

Dr. Mollen has authored several best-selling books devoted to nutrition and fitness: Run for Your Life (1978), The Mollen Method (1986), Dr. Mollen’s Anti-Aging Diet (1992) and Dr. Mollen’s Anti-Aging Program (2005). He has made appearances on The Larry King Show, Good Morning America, and Oprah.

A marathon runner and triathlete, he is Founder of the 3TV Phoenix 10K & Half Marathon. Presently, Dr. Mollen is a member of the Arizona Governor’s Council on Health, Physical Fitness & Sports.

If you're interested in participating, this November 9th 2025 will be the 50th anniversary of Art Mollen's yearly run: 50th annual Pheonix 10K (with options to run a 1 mile, 5K, 10K or half marathon!).

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Ep 169: How to sugar detox with our kids after the holidays?! with Dr Michael Goran Jan 27, 2025

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Ep 169 of Your Child is Normal! (Note the new podcast title!!!)
On today's episode Dr. Michael Goran discusses the impact of sugar on children's health, the challenges of reducing sugar intake, and practical strategies for families to manage sugar consumption. Dr Goran’s approach is practical, he doesn’t advocate for no sugar, just less if it. He offers actionable steps for parents to help their children develop healthier eating habits. The discussion also highlights the significance of teaching kids about nutrition and making informed choices regarding sugar.
*To listen to Dr Goran as a past guest, and learn more tips to help lessen sugar in your family life, you can refer back to episode 69!
Takeaways

Short-term effects of sugar can motivate children to reduce intake.
A week-long sugar fast can reset cravings and preferences.
Teaching kids to read labels helps them make informed choices.
Moderation is key; complete deprivation is not sustainable.
Quality over quantity: choose better treats when possible.

Dr Goran is one of the worlds leading experts in the field of childhood obesity, and author of “Sugarproof: The Hidden Dangers of Sugar That Are Putting Your Child’s Health at Risk and What You Can Do.” Dr Michael Goran is a Professor of Pediatrics at The Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. He is Program Director for Diabetes and Obesity at the Saban Research Institute.Dr. Goran also serves as Co-Director of the USC Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute. Dr. Goran is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Manchester, UK.Dr. Goran has published over 350 professional peer-reviewed articles and reviews. He is the Editor of the “Childhood Obesity: Causes, Consequences and Intervention Approaches” published in 2017, co-editor of “Dietary Sugars and Health” published in late 2014, and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief for Pediatric Obesity.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cScRDJ1MLFDfkuKFZlqhdW6BepwKzjrs

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Ep 168: How to best protect our lungs from poor air quality? With Dr Irina Dralyuk, Pediatric Pulmonologist Jan 19, 2025

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In this conversation, pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Irina Dralyuk discusses the importance of lung health, especially in light of recent fires affecting air quality in Los Angeles. She explains the significance of air quality indices (AQI), and its limitations. She reviews the use of air purifiers and masks, to protect lung health, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children with pre-existing conditions. She emphasizes the importance of post-exposure care, the role of vitamins and homeopathic remedies, and the impact of nutrition on lung health. Dr Dralyuk also addresses exercise considerations during times of poor air quality, school safety measures, and the current trends in pediatric respiratory issues. She concludes with an optimistic outlook on lung healing and recovery, reassuring parents about the resilience of the lungs and the body's ability to heal itself.

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Ep 166: How to effectively support and replenish your child's microbiome? With Taylor Soderborg MD PhD, Medical Director at Tiny Health Dec 23, 2024

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In this conversation, Taylor Soderborg MD PhD discusses her journey as a physician scientist and her focus on the microbiome's role in child health. The discussion emphasizes the importance of optimizing microbiomes, their impact on health, and practical advice for parents to support their children's microbiome. Soderborg introduces Tiny Health, a company dedicated to microbiome testing, and explains the testing process and personalized recommendations for families. Taylor shares insights from ongoing research, including the impact of microbiome restoration on clinical outcomes, and emphasizes the importance of making microbiome testing accessible to families.
Taylor is a licensed pediatrician with a PhD in microbiology. During her studies, she discovered the infant microbiome's role in the risk of developing obesity and liver disease, and has been obsessed with gut health ever since. After 15 years in academic medicine, she now builds bridges across all types of healthcare at Tiny Health. She is passionate about keeping people healthy and finding the root causes of health issues, while integrating different approaches to help set children up for lifelong wellness.

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Ep 165: Movement therapy, a practical tool to support our children's emotional, social, and educational needs. With Dr Lori Baudino Dec 16, 2024

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Ep 165: Dr. Lori Baudino, a licensed clinical psychologist and dance movement therapist, discusses how a child's movement and their psychology are integrated. She emphasizes the importance of understanding children's behaviors through their body language and movement, offering practical strategies for parents to support their children's emotional, social and educational needs.
To learn more about Dr Baudino check out her website: https://www.drloribaudino.com/

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Ep 164: What parents need to know about the Pediatric ICU, with Dr Kyle Willsey Dec 09, 2024

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In this conversation, Dr. Kyle Willse, a pediatric intensivist, shares insights on the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The discussion is meant to provide a basic understanding as to how the PICU operates and to help parents be an advocate for their children. A must listen for anybody who has a child or a loved one in the PICU.
Kyle Willse, DO, is board certified in Pediatrics and in Pediatric Critical Care. For the past 5 years, he has worked at Cedars-Sinai hospital as an attending in the pediatric and congenital cardiac intensive care unit. His comments in the podcast are his individual thoughts and opinions and do not represent Cedars Sinai.

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Ep 163: Strategies to help parents play & be present with their children! With Dr Tina Payne Bryson! Dec 02, 2024

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In this episode, Dr Tina Payne Bryson returns to Ask Dr Jessica to discuss her new book 'The Way of Play' which explains the importance of incorporating play into parenting, building relationships, regulating emotions, and developing essential skills in children. Her latest book shares strategies and tips to help parents play and be present with their kids--- which ultimately will help strengthen their bond with their children.
Dr. Tina Payne Bryson is a licensed mental health professional and she has co-written several books on parenting, including 'The Whole-Brain Child,' 'No-Drama Discipline,' 'The Yes Brain,' and 'The Power of Showing Up.' If you'd like to hear more from Dr Tina, check out Ask Dr Jessica episode 155---where she discusses "No-Drama Disclipline".

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Ep 162: Navigating the Complexities of Gender Identity and the potential dangers in transitioning children, with Buck Angel Nov 25, 2024

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In this conversation, Buck Angel shares his experiences as a transgender male, discussing the complexities of gender dysphoria, particularly in children and adolescents. He emphasizes the need for open conversations about transgender issues and the critical role of mental health care in understanding and supporting individuals with gender dysphoria. He emphasizes the potential dangers of rushing into medical transitions, and the need for comprehensive support for both parents and children.

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